JAIPUR: The Congress rallied more Jat leaders of the party on Monday to denounce the proposed rally here on Wednesday in support of the former External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, who was suspended from the party. Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh are expected to address the rally.

The party, which clearly saw the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's hand behind the mobilisation for the proposed rally, also tried to demolish the duo's credentials as farmers' leaders.

Honourable leader

The former Deputy Chief Minister, Kamla, led the offensive against the rally before the media at the Pradesh Congress Committee office here. Unlike other Congressmen who had strongly criticised Mr. Singh, Ms. Kamla said he was a "honourable" leader and it was wrong to say that the Congress "humiliated" him.

The former Minister, Harendra Mirdha; MLAs Ramlal Jat, Virendra Beniwal and the former MPs, Narendra Budhania and Udailal Aanjna; also spoke. PCC president B.D. Kalla was present.

In what seemed to be a pre-emptive move to deter party leaders from attending the rally, the PCC announced a State working committee meeting on the same day. However, Dr. Kalla said it was decided long back.

On Sunday, senior Jat leaders from the Congress — the former MP, Hari Singh; the former Minister, Chandra Bhan; party MLAs Suchitra Arya and Mahadev Singh and Dr.Kalla — had addressed the media.

Ms. Kamla attacked the Jat Mahasabha, which is organising the rally under the banner of the newly formed Rajasthan Kisan Sangarsh Samiti. "Jats or for that matter farmers, are not with the Rajasthan Jat Mahasabha. The rally is only an attempt to mislead the farmers," she said.

Mahasabha's retort

In a Jat Mahasabha press conference here, party president Rajaram Meel and the former MLA, Yashwant Singh Ramoo, questioned the Congress leadership's "alacrity" in finding fault with Natwar Singh and his son, when many "tainted Ministers" continued in the United Progressive Alliance Government.

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